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霸道 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
霸道bàdàothe Way of the Hegemon, abbr. of 霸王之道HSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàodespotic ruleHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàorule by mightHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàoevil as opposed to the Way of the King 王道HSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàooverbearingHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàotyrannyHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdào(of liquor, medicine etc) strongHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàopotentHSK 7, n, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
霸道bàdàoabbr. for 霸王之道HSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #19606, Very Hard
bàdào(ba4dao4)ba dao T4
  1. 1the Way of the Hegemon, abbr. of 霸王之道
  2. 2despotic rule
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March 24, 2026

霸道bàdào(ba4dao4)

霸道 (bà dào) refers to a way of ruling characterized by despotism and might, often contrasted with the more benevolent '王道' (way of the king). It is commonly used to describe a tyrannical approach or a strong, overpowering presence, whether in political contexts or in describing potent substances like liquor or medicine.

Strokes33Frequency#19606DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

霸道 has historical roots in ancient Chinese governance, where rulers often employed tyrannical methods to maintain control. This concept reflects the tension between benevolent leadership and despotic rule prevalent in Chinese political philosophy.

Memory Tip

Think of 霸 (bà) as a 'bully' who dominates others, and 道 (dào) as 'path'—together they form a 'path of a bully' or a tyrannical way. Imagine a powerful ruler who demands obedience, symbolizing the essence of 霸道.

Meanings of 霸道

bàdào(ba4dao4)
1the Way of the Hegemon, abbr. of 霸王之道
2despotic rule
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 霸道

霸道Simplified
33Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#19606Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 霸道

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Podcast: 霸道

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AI Study Notes for 霸道

Quick Contrast

王道 (wáng dào) - use 霸道 when emphasizing a tyrannical or forceful approach, while 王道 suggests a benevolent or righteous way of ruling.

Usage Notes

When using 霸道, be mindful of its negative connotations. It is informal and typically used in critical contexts, so avoid using it to describe positive authority. Common collocations include '霸道的行为' (tyrannical behavior) and '霸道的统治' (despotic rule).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 霸道 connects well with other advanced vocabulary relating to authority and governance. Students should focus on understanding its nuances and using it in both spoken and written contexts, especially in discussions about leadership styles.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 霸道 with more neutral terms for authority. For example, saying '这位领导很霸道' (This leader is very domineering) can sound overly harsh; instead, consider '这位领导很有权威' (This leader is very authoritative) for a more neutral tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 霸道

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Component Characters

霸bàtyrant; to usurp, to rule by might
21 strokes雨
View full entry
道dàodirection
HSK 412 strokes辶
View full entry

How to say the Way of the Hegemon, abbr. of 霸王之道 in Chinese

“the Way of the Hegemon, abbr. of 霸王之道” in Chinese is霸道bàdào

霸道 (bà dào) refers to a way of ruling characterized by despotism and might, often contrasted with the more benevolent '王道' (way of the king). It is commonly used to describe a tyrannical approach or a strong, overpowering presence, whether in political contexts or in describing potent substances like liquor or medicine.

When to use 霸道

When using 霸道, be mindful of its negative connotations. It is informal and typically used in critical contexts, so avoid using it to describe positive authority. Common collocations include '霸道的行为' (tyrannical behavior) and '霸道的统治' (despotic rule).

霸道 or something close to it

王道 (wáng dào) - use 霸道 when emphasizing a tyrannical or forceful approach, while 王道 suggests a benevolent or righteous way of ruling.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 霸道 with more neutral terms for authority. For example, saying '这位领导很霸道' (This leader is very domineering) can sound overly harsh; instead, consider '这位领导很有权威' (This leader is very authoritative) for a more neutral tone.

Write 霸道

霸
道

Practice writing 霸道 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 霸道

霸道 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

管事者专横____,典型的小地方人。

The guy in charge was the typical smalltown tyrant.

Example Sentences for 霸道 (3)

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1
管事者专横霸道,典型的小地方人。

guǎn shì zhě zhuān héng bà dào, , diǎn xíng de xiǎo dì fāng。

The guy in charge was the typical smalltown tyrant.
2
他不想让自己显得太专横霸道。

tā bù xiǎng ràng zì jǐ xiǎn dé tài zhuān héng bà dào。

He wants to be seen as less bossy and high-handed.
3
“喂!”那声音更加霸道地说道,“谁啊?你要干什么?”

“ “!” wèi !” nà shēng yīn gēng jiā bà dào dì,“ shuō dào? ,“ shuí ā ? nǐ?”

"Hello!" the voice said, more peremptorily. "Who is it? Who do you want?"

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Frequently Asked Questions about 霸道

Yes, it usually carries negative implications, referring to oppressive or tyrannical rule.

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